Pool Filter Problems

Sand Filter Not Building Pressure

I have a Hayward sand filter with 100 lbs of sand with new lateral and fingers replaced 3 weeks ago, changed the pressure gauge and is running steady at 12-13 psi. It has not gotten any higher than that for 3 weeks.

Any suggestions as to why or what would cause it?

Thanks for your help....

Hi. If the water flow back into the filter remains the same the pressure has not changed. If you flow has slowed down over the weeks then you are building pressure. You should backwash to increase your water flow. The pressure gauge tells you exactly the same thing as looking at your return flow. If the flow is strong the system is fine.

Filters

by Charles
(Va Beach, Va.)

Should above ground pool filters run at all times and never be turned off?

Hi Charles. The answer all depends on the HP of your pump. Smaller systems will do just fine with running 24/7 while larger ones may only need 10 to 12 hours a day. One thing that does not change, the hotter it is the more the filter needs to run.

Bad Water When Vacuuming

(Lehigh Township, Pa)

I have a Hayward non sand pool filter. Every time I vacuum our pool, the bad stuff comes right back in through the jet. I have asked my husband can't we shut the jet off so it does not come back in and of course we can't but we do not see anything wrong.

We shock the pool every sat, add the tabs and put in a all natural water clarifier to pick up the small pieces. But vacuuming I hate because it just comes right back in and makes it cloudy after it was just clear. What could be the problem?

Hi. The problem is probably algae in the pool. Many types of algae will blow right through a filter. Since you have a non-sand filter it must be either DE or cartridge. It is very possible to have a bad cleaning element in either kind of system, maybe this should be checked.

When I use a cartridge system and clean the filter, vacuum the pool and then clean the filter again. Doing this might help.